The devil is spoken of in Rev 12:10 as “…the accuser of our brethren” he “accused them before our God day and night:“, he’d like to see the fall of a house divided against itself, so I’m sure he’d like to hear Christian’s speaking accusative words against each other, rather than growing in Christ. It’s easy to blame him, and overlook the fact that accusations though characteristic of Satan, don’t always come just from him, but also from the man of flesh (as distinctly separate though presently joined to the man of Spirit).
If a professing Christian is known to be either practising sin, or teaching error, Saints lose respect for their words; It’s been said… “what you’re living is so loud, I can’t hear what your saying”, that lack of respect can quickly close your ears to their words. The flesh would say of another member of the body: “Practise what you preach, or I won’t listen to anything you preach!” and there may be part or full application appropriate in that response, but in a minor doctrinal error scenario, application of this disposition, may be characteristic of the ‘old man’, the Pharisaic disposition, to set a level based on law, and demand that all others meet that level, even though the Pharisees themselves couldn’t even fulfil the requirements of the law that they applied to others. But there is a measure given by God, it’s given in a number of places throughout scripture, including in 1 Timothy:
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
1 Timothy 3:2-7
Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
The Word doesn’t suggestion that Christians should accept, or support heresy or teachings of error, but when a brother ignorantly teaches error among scriptural truths, the question is… Is there room given for discussion? I believe that if the oversight of the congregation will not accept discussion on differing perspective of scripture, or if they speak diminutive of any who respectfully question their teaching; and the teaching that isn’t open for discussion is causing the congregation to support the teacher rather than the truth of The Word of God, then it’s likely to be time to leave.
The decision will be a response that’s based on faith and trust in God,
Rather than responding in fear or anger, wisdom acts in the knowledge that God is all knowing (Omniscient), allowing or sending adversities for His glory. The war isn’t with blood and flesh, it’s a spiritual war. Spend time on your knees and in The Word, to glean God’s wisdom. Walk the way of peace.
Humility supports the welfare of the brethren.
The right response considers “weaker ones” so that they aren’t oppressed at the expense of my freedom. I love the promise and instruction of Isaiah 58:
Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?
Isaiah 58:6-11
Isn’t it to deal your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor that are cast out to your house? when you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you hide not yourself from your own flesh?
Then shall your light break forth as the morning, and your health shall spring forth speedily: and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your reward.
Then shall you call, and the Lord shall answer; you shall cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
And if you draw out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall your light rise in obscurity, and your darkness be as the noon day:
And the Lord shall guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and make fat your bones: and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
I’m not fully responsible or able to uphold other’s rights, only God can do that (I have a battle fulfilling my own responsibilities personally, but by God;s grace…). I have a sphere of responsibility committed to me by God, and He does His work both in and out of that sphere, so if my sphere of responsibility consists of my family, and if they’re consistently impacted by the wrong being taught/practised in the church, then it may be a matter of me leaving the Church with my family members who are suffering, to keep them from suffering more.
The book of Nehemiah speaks of the various person’s responsibilities in rebuilding of Jerusalem, where they managed different areas of the wall, it’s another representation of the exhortation spoken of in Ephesians 4:16, regarding the body consisting of many parts, and each part working to the building up of the whole, in love.
The right response yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
Living righteously, (that is… living according to God’s instruction), maintains peace in one’s life, regardless of the storms that surround.
Numerous examples of such, are given in scripture, but the one which comes to mind first, is the account of Jesus sleeping on the boat while the disciples were battling with the impact of the storm against their vessel.
And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say to him, Master, don’t you care that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Mark 4:38-39
If God desires you to stay where you are, you will grow in faith, and have peace in the storm.
Fellowship & Growth During The Storm.
Satan can’t take our salvation from us, but it’s his pleasure to block the Saints ears to the truth of The Word spoken through the brethren, and to reduce fuller appreciation of fellowship. But it’s not as though the Devil has free reign over mankind, many Christians speak of the activity of Satan, as if he’s able to wreak havoc to his satisfaction. To recognise that he can’t do any more than he’s granted by God, is to be in a place of stability, it’s the place that’s described as the rock on which we stand, it’s Christ. The arm of God has been granted as protection to His people through Christ, we should be meditating on His Word day and night, living by faith, trusting in His way, in His time, rather than being governed by fear, anxiety and lack of wisdom…
The account of Satan’s part in Job’s trials, is a clear example of the fact that his, and every other created being’s actions, are subject to God’s authority, and we need to rest in this.
Ref: Job 1:12 “And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your power; only upon himself put not forth your hand.”
Job 2:6 “And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in your hand; but save his life.“
Adversity can be one of the greatest means to cause growth.
Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’
Luke 13: 6-8
Maybe the adversity I’m experiencing is the ground being dug up around me, and fertilizer being put around my roots?
Romans 3:23 “all have sinned” James 3:2 “For we all often offend.”
Recognition of the sin that dwells in us, maintains us in a place of humility, and oils the cog’s of fellowship, as far as depends on ourselves.
To Separate or withdraw from.
There are occasions when it doesn’t seem possible to have full fellowship with some Christian’s; there are times when we’re instructed not to fellowship with some who profess to be Christian’s; and there are degrees of fellowship to be considered and applied, all from scriptural instruction. Romans 12:18 says “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Humility is paramount to governing our relationship with others:
To speak “the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15), requires humility, and the hope is that fellowship can be restored, but it may be that even when this is done, the other party may become aggressive or defensive and work to attempt to discredit you regardless of your disposition. This is when separation from those who hold to a teaching of error, is likely to be the best solution:
Scripture shows a range of scenarios where Christian’s are instructed to, or are recorded as having withdrawn or separated from fellow professing Christian’s, some examples of such occasions, are listed bellow:
1) Act 15:38 “but Paul thought it not well to take with them him who had abandoned them, going back from Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work.”
2) 2 Tim 2:20-21 “But in a great house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also wooden and earthen; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If then one shall have purified himself from these, he shall be a vessel to honour, sanctified, serviceable to the Master, prepared for every good work.“
“purified” is translated from Greek ekkathairō… to cleanse, clean thoroughly.
3) 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 “And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.“
‘Note’ or ‘mark’ that man… Greek Phonetic: say-mi-o’-o
V. 14: Thayer Def.: to mark or note for one’s self.
V. 15: Admonish means to caution, or reprove gently: to warn.
4) 1Co 5:11 “But now I have written to you, if any one called brother be fornicator, or avaricious, or idolater, or slanderer, or a drunkard, or extortioner , not to mix with him; with such a one not even to eat.“
5) 1 Cor 5:1 “It is universally reported that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not even among…to deliver him, I say, being such, to Satan for destruction of the flesh,”
6) Acts 8:1 “On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.“
7) Rom 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching which you have learned; and avoid them.
(Consider Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.)
8) Mat 10:14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when you depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
The principal governing factors of our relating to others, are to be sourced from God’s instruction in The Word. The natural man can make plenty of suggestions as to how to relate, by compromising God’s instruction and maintaining a close relationship, or alternatively, to be openly judgemental, degrading the person by treating them as inferior.
Christ kept fellowship with the disciples even though He knew they were contributors to the agony He was about to bear, and He loved them to the end. But He had no fellowship with evil. Ephesians 5:11 “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them”.
You may be in a congregation where you’re hoping to see a positive change in those who are creating division, or who are otherwise practising corruption; but this may not be your responsibility. Some people will accept a portion of God’s blessing but have no interest in repenting, this is the case with the nine lepers who although healed by Christ, they continued in selfishness rather than expressing gratitude. Those holding to, or teaching error, may have a form of Godliness, but deny the power of it, so we’re to turn away from them (2 Timothy 3:5); God doesn’t need our help to do His work; it may be that He’ll allow the corruption to continue regardless of your prayers or actions. Any person who hopes to “fix” what God is allowing, needs to consider the following verse: 2 Samuel 6:6 And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. 7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.
It may be time to leave, rather than try to fix or help a corrupt organisation. God commands men everywhere to repent; but if they won’t listen to Him, your words may be fuel for the fire of their bitterness or evil, and you’re likely to cause yourself more grief. There are situations when the Saint is to shake the dust off their feet, and move to another city or church.
Pray for those who are in the darkness of error, but fix your eyes, thoughts and heart on God’s word, and keep moving forward, yoked to Christ.
Confide in God in all your ways, He’ll direct you in the way of peace and growth. Make your decisions in fear and respect of God, not man.
Study like a Berean! 